FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
August 31, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEFENDANT IN HARWOOD FIREBOMBING
SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON
Targeted Baltimore Woman Who Tried to Stop
Them from Selling Drugs in Her Neighborhood
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Sedrick Bowman, age 26, of Baltimore was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit witness tampering and use of fire and explosives to commit a felony, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “The sentences imposed on the perpetrators of the Harwood firebombing send a message to criminals that witness intimidation will not be tolerated. Anyone who attempts to intimidate a witness will be quickly brought to justice and serve a substantial prison sentence.”
According to the statement of facts provided to the court on June 15, 2006 at his guilty plea, on January 15, 2005 Bowman met with Nakie Harris, age 30, Jackie Brewington, age 20, Issac Smith, age 27, Andre Wilkins, age 33, Richard Royal, age 22 and Terrence Smith, age 25, all of Baltimore to discuss firebombing a home in retaliation for the owner of that residence reporting drug activity to the police and in an effort to prevent the owner from continuing to report drug activity. Bowman and others made molotov cocktails by emptying beer bottles, filling them with gasoline and inserting rags soaked with gasoline to serve as “wicks.” The defendants gathered at the home, where Bowman, Brewington and Royal each threw one of the molotov cocktails at the rear of the residence, while Nakie Harris and Isaac Smith threw molotov cocktails at the front of the house. Meanwhile, Andre Wilkins directed Shakia Watkins, age 20, of Baltimore to call the Baltimore City “911” operator to report a fictitious crime in order to divert police attention away from the area of the firebombing. Wilkins, serving as the getaway driver, parked his car in an alley near the site and drove the defendants from the scene.
Terrence Smith, Nakie Harris and Richard Royal were convicted after trial. Smith was sentenced to 80 years in prison. Harris and Royal were both sentenced to 60 years in prison. Prior to trial, Brewington, Andre Wilkins and Isaac Smith pled guilty to witness tampering and use of fire and explosives to commit a felony. Isaac Smith was sentenced to 150 months in prison. Brewington and Andre Wilkins each faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and are scheduled to be sentenced on September 7, 2006 at 11:00 a.m., and September 12, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., respectively. Shakia Watkins pled guilty to conspiracy to commit witness tampering and was sentenced to four years in prison.
United States Attorney Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Baltimore City Fire Department; Baltimore City Police Department; and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. David Copperthite and Kwame J. Manley, who prosecuted the case.
This page last modified—August 31, 2006